Drag Reduction Through Changes in Cabin Geometry and Trailer Gap of Heavy-Duty Trucks

Reduction of aerodynamic drag of heavy-duty trucks can significantly save fuel costs and US dependence on the imported oil. Reduction of aerodynamic drag by 30% can result in fuel cost savings in billions of dollars every year. Aerodynamic drag of truck depends on the frontal cross-sectional area and the speed of the vehicle. In addition, the gap between the cabin and the trailer significantly affect the drag of the truck. This paper investigates how changes in the cabin geometry and the trailer gap can reduce the aerodynamic drag using numerical simulations. The numerical simulations were carried out using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, CFX-5.5, from AEA Technologies (now owned by ANSYS). Effects of vehicle speed, cabin geometry, and trailer gap on the aerodynamic drag were investigated.